Sunday, 25 November 2018

This was originally published on the 1970 Fas et Patria website which still exists. However, over the coming years this will be retired and the archives are going to be gradually moved to this website. Apologies if you have seen it before.

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Sunday, 4 November 2018

An appeal by the editor, plus a bit of judicious arm-twisting, has at last persuaded us that some
contribution to the Bourne is required from the Parents’ Association.The pressure applied by both staff and pupils has satisfied us that we are now fully-fledged members
of the school ‘family’. This but confirms the feeling we had before, during, and at the Summer Fete;
that this year the event was in every sense a combined effort, resulting in not only a larger
attendance but increased sale of programmes and a greater profit. Indeed we found much hidden
talent freely displayed – from junior pupils, a number of whom should find satisfactory careers in the
public relations field, to hitherto unsuspected sales ability from certain masters. Surely one well-
known cricketer (who shall remain nameless) would make a magnificent fairground barker (? WRP?),
and another handyman (GL or PY?) might well be expected to join the training staff at a reputable
Epsom stable, although we understand that the insurance premium will be greatly increased for
mounting his most temperamental steed.
The effort and strain of preparing for the Fete showed by the way in which the Chairman ‘cracked’ a
few days before the event, and appeared on the day on crutches and with his leg in plaster.
However we should like to thank all those who helped in any way to make the afternoon the success
it was. Failings there may well have been in some directions, but after two years we are learning
fast, and lessons learnt will be put to good use next year, when we hope for similar kindly weather
and an even greater profit than this year’s £870.
Some part of this year’s profits have already been put to work in providing the school with five
overheard projection cameras and a copying unit, reference books for the various subject libraries,
and spraying equipment for the Art Department. In addition, £100 has been invested as the first
contribution to a fund for the eventual replacement for the school coach. Here again we have
worked on a family basis, as the above suggestions and others were made by the staff and boys,
acting through the School Council.
During the year we have, of course, pursued other activities, including the Annual Xmas Social and
Draw. The first, and many other prizes from the Draw went to pupils of the school – we deny any
collusion on our part which resulted in the Headmaster (AJ) obtaining part of his Christmas ‘spirit’
from this source, although we anticipate selling him more than one book of tickets this year.
On the educational side, we have of necessity spent a considerable time in putting our point of view
on the future of the school to the Croydon Educational Committee. In fact our hats have barely fitted
us since, as it appeared our objection was the only one to succeed.
We also enjoyed a very interesting evening’s discussion following a talk by Mr J H Evernden MBE,
Croydon’s Principal Youth Employment Officer on ‘A Career for your Son’ in the course of which
many parents learnt a lot.
All in all, we feel the Association has built firmly on the foundations laid in the first year, and we are
convinced that it will go from strength to strength, given the continuing support of the kind
displayed so far.